Ellis/Morris to formally announce mayoral bids [updated]

As long suspected, Third Ward Councilman Corey Ellis is scheduled to announce his bid for the mayor’s office Monday at 11:30 at the Crowne Plaza (we believe CBS 6′s Ken Screven had this first, by the way).

Common Council President Shawn Morris, meanwhile, is poised to announce her campaign in the next week or 10 days, she told Local Politics today.

Morris, 52, served three terms representing the Seventh Ward before she was elected to the president’s seat in 2005. The president’s seat, which serves as the tie-breaking vote in the 15-member council, is elected by voters from all wards, meaning Morris has already shown she can win a citywide race.

With Ellis and Morris launching mayoral bids, the stage is set for a potential a three-way Democratic primary this fall with four-term incumbent Mayor Jerry Jennings.

Update: Mea culpa. As the comment below notes, we neglected to mention that city resident Marlon Anderson, a frequent commenter before the council and critic of Jennings, has also publicly stated he will seek the mayoralty as well. End update.

Jennings defeated community activist Alice Green by nearly 10,000 votes in 2005 after besting Archie Goodbee Jr. in by about 5,500 votes in the Democratic primary.

Ellis, who since his election in 2005 to represent Arbor Hill has been outspoken on issues ranging from vacant buildings to the effectiveness of the Citizens Police Review Board, has been among those on the council recently pushing for an aggressive, public investigation of the controversial no-fine parking privileges for a select few in the city.

Ellis worked to help elect Albany County DA David Soares in 2004 — a long-shot campaign that rattled Albany County’s Democratic establishment when Soares ousted party-backed incumbent Paul Clyne — and last year was chair of Albany for Obama.

A recent message to Ellis supporters began like this:

“Last year, we showed that ordinary people working hard and working together can do extraordinary things. We helped elect Barack Obama President and changed the politics in this country. Now we have the chance to change the politics and the direction here in Albany by electing Council member Corey Ellis as our next Mayor.”

He works as director of the Trinity Institution’s Family and Neighborhood Resource Center.

Soares’ defeat of Clyne, who had Jennings’ backing, proved that Albany’s traditional Democratic power circles are vulnerable to a well-funded candidate from a more progressive wing of the party.

Ellis won his seat from incumbent Councilman Michael Brown, a fairly reliable vote for Jennings on the council, even after losing a close Democratic primary to Brown. Ellis was elected on the Working Families Party line, the same line that helped propel Soares into office.

Morris, however, also had the support of the Working Families Party in her 13,000-plus-vote win in 2005 over Mary Ellen O’Connor, who had the Independence Party line. Morris won her Democratic primary by nearly 2,700 votes over the late Sarah Curry-Cobb, a councilwoman from the Fourth Ward who was also a Jennings ally.

One major question will be whether either of the two lesser-known challengers will be able to raise enough money to take on an entrenched and flush incumbent.

Jennings held a pricey December fundraiser at the Fort Orange Club and, according to state disclosure forms, the Jennings 2009 campaign committee had $122,216 on hand in January.

No January records were available for the Friends of Corey Ellis committee. The Friends of Shawn Morris, the committee Morris used to fund her bid for council president, filed a “no activity” statement in January and in July.

Jennings has made no formal announcement about his intentions, and some still privately question whether he’ll run. His 2009 State of the City address, however, seemed to be the speech of a man who is not yet finished.

Morris said she’s timing her announcement so her daughter, a student at the University of Buffalo, can be in town.

“We don’t have a definite date yet, but it will definitely be in the next week or so,” said Morris, whose son graduated last year from Albany High School.

She said the election is not about the number of people in it but rather how well each candidate can define the issues facing Albany. She rattled off a few: the cost of living, the condition of infrastructure, “a crisis in confidence in public safety right now” and looming uncertainties in city finances. Keeping residents in the city — and the city a place where they want to live — is a priority, she said.

12 Responses

whatever happened to fair and balanced journalism T.U. I am A annoiunced candidate who is also in the race, and who is in it to win it! So I think it should be re-coded A four way race! and Just so you know, now that candidate ellis and candidate morris have announced their candidacies, on Monday at the common council meeting I am laying down the gauntlet and challenging them and Mayor jennings to A debate on the issues as soon as possible> But again I ask where is the fair and balanced media coverage. the peole have a right to know and make the decison on who is valid and who is not. And the continued ignoring of My campaign is doing a disservice to the process! News not morris or ellis who is gonna win this election, it will be me! because to put it simply Morris and ellis like Mayor jennings are political insiders, denizens of city hall. They have been in office and power while all the problems that have beset Albany have went on. they are all equally culpable and suspect. so count me out if you want, but I relish the chance to debate the issues with the other candidates and give the people of Albany A real look at them and the issues, something the T.U. clearly isnt doing!

At this point, I could vote for either Morris or Ellis, and I’m a bit concerned that there are too many Albany residents like me, and we could split our votes. I love contested elections — they are healthy for our democracy. But my sense of Albany is we could risk this election again and have another four years of a mayor who uses gimmicks and tricks to get us out of every hole he puts us in.

At some point before the primary, I hope Morris and Ellis have a heart to heart conversation and figure it out.

Dear TU:
It does seem that you have omitted Mr. Anderson from your article. I believe that it would only be right to contact him directly and make any corrections/additions so that the race gets off on the right footing.

The City of Albany is clamoring for a new direction, and I was very excited to see (and impressed with) Council President Morris’ interview on Capital News 9 this evening.

She showed the voters of Albany that this will be a campaign of issues, and tangible change here in the City.

As an active Democrat, neighborhood advocate, and outspoken voice regarding the inadequacies of public safety in our City – I’m really excited about the opportunity to unseat the proven ineffectiveness of our incumbent Mayor.

The Mayor’s ‘State of the City’ speech touted that his next term in office would be about “Fulfilling The Promise”… It would appear to this activist that we have had three terms spanning the better part of two decades that have proven to be nothing but a “Trail of Broken Promises”. Can we really afford to let him have another?

Firstly Upstate yankee let me say that typos happen, espeically when you post on such things as A blog. I dont think typos are A accurate reflection on my capabilties to be mayor of this city of Albany! 8th ward both council persons(ellis and morris) have been in power for A number of years, in city hall as Mayor jennings has been. yet the coniditons in the city have not improved so given that fact do you actually beleive that they have merited support or confidence in their leadership capabilties? ! I am of the belief that they bear culpability as much as the Mayor in that vein.Albany reader I had to contact the T.U. on that and as you see from their update and on sentance about me in todays(sundays T.U.) they did comply! Im of the hope that I will receive a fairer amount of coverage from the local media in the future since I am A valid candidate in this election. And lastly to hawk and 11th ward yes this will be a race about issues, not about egos or political advancement. And the facts of the issues are, as I see them and in things like the coming debates(and rest assured I will push hard for debates between the candidates as soon as possible)that my 3 opponents have been and are part of the very system, the very government, the very city hall that has failed the city of albany. All three are political insiders and politicans. pots calling kettles black if you will. And unless we move away from politics and politicans in the city of albany, and try a new approach we will continue to have the same old same old and problems. its that simply. And i am of the hope that the public will have the intelligence to see and realize this. So i do look forward to the debates that we must have in the city of Albany. Because only then will the public be able to make A true decision on who should lead this city into the future.

#7, Mr. Anderson: Corey Ellis is in his first term as a member of the council. Shawn Morris moved from representing the seventh ward to a citywide post as council president. Neither has had the power to make executive decisions. What I will judge them on as candidates for the position is how capable they seem to be in making executive decisions. The candidate I am looking for has a clear view and grasp of the issues, and does not use smoke and mirrors and platitudes.

8th ward corey ellis is a member of the council, shawn morris is a member of the council. part of the very system that has failed and continued to fail Albany miserably. they vote and make decisions every day, so that excuse about not having exectutive power doesnt wash. what you may judge candidates for is fine, but I am of the hope that the public will judge us all on the issues and where we have stood on them and where we stand on them. Instead of, as you say, using political smoke and mirrors! Simply put: Do we want more of the same which is what was clearly offered today, or do we want “something new” in the City hall of Albany? More political insiders playing politics or do we want action that serves the community? Myself and pardon me for being intellectually biased, but I think the choice is clear. What about you?

and before the Real poltics begin in this Mayors race, let me make one thing clear, I have nothing But respect for all the candidates running, Mayor jennings, and council persons ellis and morris. But that aside the fact remains that they are all residents of city hall, all elected officals, and all with the power to effect and legislate positive change and action in the city of Albany. And they havent. and as we enter into debates before the voters(and I think we should have debates sooner rather than later, before people start doling out their politcal endorsements) I hope that that fact as well as others are made clear! But in any case I want to assure everyone that this campaign intends to be postive and free of personal attacks or assasinations of character!

Corey Ellis is very close friends with the current District Attorney. I have serious reservations about that. I’ve watched the current DA ignore problems in the city of Albany. With his close friend in office, what accountability will there be?

For now, I will see what his campaign is about — as I will see what you do in your campaign. I am open to this primary process.

8th ward that is what every voter should now do, reserve judgement about whom they will support until they get a full and public view of each candidate about the issues and where they stand on them and what they have done about them.